High quality CDs

About 6 years ago I bought an Oppo 105 specifically to enjoy the so-called benefits of higher resolution SACDs/DVD-As. Turns out the 105 simply isn't that great for either SACD and especially Red book. Quite likely the transport is the biggest issue. Maybe 3 years ago I upgraded the IEC, and jumper to bypass the 110/220 switch, then replaced the power supply with an aftermarket all from Ebay. These made terrific improvements, but also pointed the finger at the transport being the chief culprit. A couple years ago I bought a Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5 and a Marantz HD CD-1 (player, but used only as a transport) to play Red book CDs and it way outperformed the 105 playing the same disc's SACD layer (using XLR outs into the DDP-1)! A couple months ago the Marantz died and I decided to get a dedicated transport (Audiolab CDT6000. I no longer use the 105, unless for a classical disc that I don't have a red book.

rapping it up, you need a high quality SACD player=$$$$$ to enjoy hi-rez benefits

hth

I will second the recommendation for BIS CD's as their CD's are very very dynamic so watch the volume control as when something starts off quietly the speaker cone can be billowing when you get a climax. you will definitely not be disappointed.

I listen exclusively to Classical.  Where are you getting your CDs from?  Maybe your system needs revamping.

  Anyway, Classical Labels that are especially known for good Sonics are, inno particular order:  BIS, Reference Recordings, Decca, MDG, Pentatone.  These labels tend to bill themselves as Audiophile, and most of them are sonically outstanding.

  The so called Major Classical labels, besides Decca, are Sony and Warner.  Like Decca, these current mastheads comprise many labels that were until a decade or so past were independent with decades long recording traditions, such as DG and Phillips (Decca), RCA (Sony), EMI , Erato, Telefunken(Warner).  Then there are the historical budget labels such as Naxos and Vox.

  DG was thought to be exemplary in the lp days, but most of the  records from their heyday show hot treble and limited bass.  Naxos and Vox always suffered from poor engineering but there are some exceptional finds there.  Sony and RCA early digital transfers could be problematic but later remasterings are usually exceptional.

  My recommendation. : It would help if you told us what sub genres within Classical you are interested in (Baroque, Opera, etc. or just name Composers) and then I and others will flood you with recommendations.  Secondly, use a streaming service to audition a recording before buying 

@rman9: And the HM albums are by-and-large very well recorded. Plus their artist roster if fantastic: lots of the best "historically informed/original instrument" musicians in the world. The repertoire includes lots of Early Music and Baroque, along with some Classical (Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert) and Romantic.

In the 1990's Harmonia Mundi U.S.A. had parking lots sales on Sundays at their Westwood (or was it Santa Monica?) office/warehouse. They sold newly-discontinued CD's and LP's for five bucks each. I bought a lot!

Stereophile and The Absolute sound review recordings each issue. 
 

Of course a good streamer will allow you to find recommended ones from, for instance, Qobuz or Tidal… and look up recommended albums from magazines… never getting stuck with something you don’t like.

@spenav will any CD player like the Luxman D03X be able to play an XRCD? I have an older Rotel CD player that plays HDCD.. Do I need a special decoding player?

@bdp24 thank you so much.. There is a huge selection of classical music at Harmonia Mundi.. Can't tell you enough how elated I am.. Thank you :)

@rman9
What you are looking for is called XRCD (Extended Resolution Compact Disc). They are much more expensive than a regular CD ($30 or more). You can buy them anywhere online. Elusivedisc.com is a good place to start.

For what it’s worth, they sound better than SACD. 

Harmonia Mundi, both France and U.S.A.

@tomcy6 this is awesome!! I was getting tired of finding any decent ones at my neighborhood Everyday Music store.. 

They don’t have a large catalog but Yarlung Records releases are said to sound very good.

@stuartk @fuzztone  thank you!!

Blue Coast

@rman9 

MoFi does make hybrid sacd's which include a Redbook layer and they are not the only ones. Check the Music Direct and Acoustic Sounds sites.

My current preamp is a Mcintosh C53 with 8 band equalizer, and that doesn't help. However, I am soon replacing the C53 with a Luxman C900U in June. The demo of the C900U at home considerably improved the CDs but would like to explore really good recording.. 

Sounds like you need some tone controls. My former McIntosh C-22 preamp was good.

@immatthewj thank you!! I forgot to mention the Luxman D03X that I have for CDs does not support SACDs, but it does play MQA CDs.. I just read, MFSL doesn't produce redbook CDs anymore :(

Have to keep looking..

I am not really a fan of classical but I am finding the crop of MFSL hybrids to sound fantastic; unfortunately, I did a search on ebay for MFSL classical SACD and came up empty handed.  However, MFSL does have some classical red book issues out there, have you tried any of them?